Electrical water-supply pumping system



G. M. BROWN.

ELECTRICAL WATER SUPPLY PUMPING SYSTEM APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 1919.

1,369,08 1. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- gwuentoz I Wilma Quota,

GeorgeMBr0wn,

UNITED STATES GEORGE M. BROWN, OF MULLINS, SOUTH CAROLINA.

ELEGTRICAL WATER-SUPPLY PUMPING SYSTEM.

Application filed February 6, 1919.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. Brown, a citizen of the United States, residln at Mullins, in the county ofMarion and btate of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Water-Supply Pumping Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electr cal water supply pumping system, in wh ch the pump is employed only when water 1s to be drawn from the supply system. It is common to employ electric motors to supply water for house systems, sa1dmotors usually being provided with means for maintaining a water supply in a tank, elther at a predetermined level, as in the case of overhead tanks, or under a certain determined pressure, as in the case of a compressedv air water system. v V

' There are certain objections to the use of tanks aside from their initial cost. Much damage has been caused by overhead tanks in attics leaking, and leakage in a, compressed air tank puts the entire system out of operation. Furthermore in cold climates the freezing of water in said tanks is a constant source of danger to the system, and is not easily provided against unless the tank itself is placed in a heated room, and even then the tanks must be drained during the winter if thebuilding is to be left occupied even for a few days. On the other hand the water supply pipes are more protected, and easier to drain, holding comparatively little water. In my system the water is pumped direct from the well to the spigot, the pump operating only when a spigot is open, and

.the motor stopping automatically as soon as a spigot is closed. This not only avoids the use of a tank, but provides fresh water, pumping it only as required, a great advantage in the summer, but also prevents constant drip and loss of water from leakage at the spigots and through flush tanks.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 275,304.

splgots while the pump is operating, and 4: is the pump cylinder. This latter is located in proper position with respect to the source of water supply, assumed to be a well, and the location and depth of the Well would determine the exact placing of the cylinder 4. The pump piston is operated by a rod 5 drlven from a pump 6, in turn driven, either directly or indirectly. as by a belt, from a motor 7. i

All of the parts above mentioned are of common construction, are in common use and can be purchased in the open market, and lnstalled by any good plumber skilled in the line of Work indicated.

My invention relates to the application to these parts of the following described pumping system.

. Suitable feed wires 8 run to and from the motor, and in one of these is formed a normally open gap 9, adapted to be closed by a contact plug 10.

This plug is planned to work vertically in a housing 11, the lower end of the plug forming the contact pointto bridge the gap 9. To prevent the plug falling by gravity, or through accident, it is normally held elevated by'two springs 12, the tension of these springs being regulated by nuts 13. The housing is suitably slotted to allow for the projection andvertical' movement of a laterally extending arm 14. From the main house supply pipe there extends upwardly a short branch pipe 15, in whichthere will.

be, when the spigots are closed the same water pressure as in other parts of the systern. Thispipe contains a diaphragmilti, or the diaphragm might be re laced by a float in the form of a piston. uy element movable upwardly on increase of water pressure," and movable downwardly by gravity or by pressure of the spring 17, will be the equivalent of the diaphragm. A rod 18 connects the arm'l l with the movable element 16. An adjusting nut 19 provides means for regulating the tension ,ofthe spring 17. The greater the water pressure required to lift the element 16 the higher the water will be pumped in the system, as for example to, a second or third floor, thenut 19 being adjusted accordingly. Engaging the upper end of the contact plug 10 is an electric hammer or armature, provided with the usual electromagnets 21. This hammer is similar to those used on electric bells, in fact a bell mechanism of circuit and automatically, stopping suitable size could be employed at this point, the bell being removed and the hammer striking the plug instead. The hammer is of course arranged to deliver the blow downwardly. The magnet 21 is in circuit with the usual wires 22 in which are placed atthe most convenient points push button 23, as for example adjacent spigots at. One push button may control the flow of water from any desired number of spigots, and the buttons are duplicated only for con venience in reaching them. Otherwise one button could control the entire water system in the house.

The operation of the system thus described is as follows Under normal conditions the spigot-s are closed. The pump is idle and there is no pressure in the system except that due to the head of water standing in the pipes, and this is taken care of by tension of the spring 17.

If it is desired to draw water at any point the spigot or other valve is opened and pressure applied to the most convenient push button. The action of the hammer 20 drives the plug 10 into the gap 9, thus completing the circuit through the motor and starting the pump. This also lowers the arm 14. As long as the spigot is open the water will escape therethrough, but as soon as a sufficient amount has been drawn and the spigot closed the increased water pressure will lift the diaphragm 16 against the tension of the spring 17, which normal pressure of water due to its standing in the pipes would not, and which is also sufficient to prevent lifting of the diaphragm during the pumping operation as long as an avenue of escape is presented by an open spigot, and this upward movement of the diaphragm lifts the arm 14: and the plug 10, thereby breaking the the motor.

In case a leak either in the pipes or pump cylinder reduces the normal water pressure the pump will not be started as the springs 12 prevent fall of the plug by gravity. Only actuation of the hammer through the closing of the hammer circuit at one of the push buttons will start the pump, and should one of these be closed without opening a spigot, the pump would be at once stopped again by the water pressure acting on the diaphragm and lifting the arm 14.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a water supply system including an electric motor and draw off spigots, of a normally open electric circuit including the motor, means arranged adjacent said spigots for closing said circuit, and separate and independent means arranged in the water supply system for automatically breaking the circuit on closure of said spigots.

2. In a device of the kind described, an electric motor placed in a normally open circuit, a water supply system including discharge devices, means arranged adjacent points of discharge for closing the motor circuit, means arranged in the water supply system for breaking said circuit on increase of water pressure due to closure of the draw off devices, and means for controlling the pressure required for the breaking of the said circuit, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a water supply system, a pump, a motor actuating said pump, a normally open electric circuit for said motor, a contact plug adapted to close said circuit, a supplemental circuit having breaks adjacent the discharge points of the water system, means for closing the said supplemental circuit, means actuated by closure of said circuit for moving said contact plug to closed position and starting the motor, and an automatic Water pressure device adapted to move said contact plug to open position if and when there is no discharge of water from the system.

4. In a system of water supply substantially as described, a normally open electrical circuit, a contact plug adapted to close said circuit, spring supports for said plug, a supplemental. electrical circuit, normally broken, means inserted therein for forcing said plug into the gap of the first circuit, an arm carried by said plug, a branch pipe connected with the water supply system, and means arranged in said branch pipe for lifting said arm and plug, on increase of water pressure in said system above predetermined limits.

5. In a water supply system including a motor driven pump, and a normally open motor circuit, a plug adapted to close the said circuit, an electrically actuated hammer adapted to strike said plug and force the same into circuit closing position, spring arms bearing on said plug andpreventing it from falling by gravity, switch devices for controlling said hammer, an arm carried by the plug, a branch pipe in the water supply system, a movable element in the branch pipe lifted by water pressure, a spring bearing on said element and regulating the pressure required to lift said element, and means connecting said element said element under water pressure lifts said plug and breaks the motor circuit, as and for the purpose set forth.

(3. In a water supply system, the combination with the supply pipes and discharge valves, of a motor drivenjpump' for forcing water through said pipes toward said discharge valves, means operable from a point adjacent said valves for supplying power to operate the pump and independent automatic pressure means for so acting on the power controlling means as to prevent the and said arm, whereby upward movement of supply of power to the motor when the system is full and the discharge valves closed.

7. A water supply system including sup ply pipes leading from a source of supply directly to discharge valves without any supply tank, an electrically operated pump for drawing water from said source and forcing it through saidpipes to said discharge valves, automatic pressure controlled means for cutting off the power circuit for operating said pump and maintaining it cut off when the system is full and the discharge valves closed, and independently operated means for closing the circuit and causing the pump to operate when a discharge valve is open.

8. In a water supply system the combination with an electrically driven pump, a normally open electric circuit for driving said pump, a movable closure for said circuit so arranged as to resist movement in either direction, a second electric circuit normally open, means embodying one way snap action operated by said second circuit when closed to move said closure of the first circuit to closed position and automatic means operated by a predetermined pressure in the system to move said closure against its normal resistance to open position.

9. In a normally closed water supply system including an air pressure chamber and valve controlled outlets, the combination with an electrically driven pump for supplying water to the systenn'a normally open electric circuit for driving said pump, a movable closure for said circuit, electrically controlled one-way acting means to move said closure to closed position to start the motor, and automatic one-way acting means operated by a predetermined pressure in the system to move said closure to open position to stop the motor.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. F. SMITH, L. B. Eownnos. 

